Chapter 2: Not Much of a Homecoming

Clarke gave a sigh as Camp Jaha came into view before her. Lexa's estimation had proved correct and it had taken them a week to travel there by horse. Clarke turned to look at Aldrin. He was a few paces behind, driving a cart pulled by two horses. In the back of the cart was Lexa's tent and a small one for himself. It was just the three of them so that it was clear that this was a friendly visit and not an invasion force. Still Clarke felt uneasy, she had been able to look at the bigger picture and see that Lexa had not been at fault for what she did at Mt Weather. But Clarke doubted that the others would see things like that.

The fact that the people of the Trigeda had reported no contact with the sky people said everything. Camp Jaha was resolutely avoiding its neighbours on the ground and that worried Clarke even more. Yes, they'd all had ground survival lessons back on the ark. They'd learnt the basic theory of living on the ground. But the reality of life on Earth was different and harsher than anyone might have imagined. She hoped that they'd managed well enough.

A shout rang from the wall of the Camp as the three travellers moved closer. Clarke slowed her horse to a gentle trot but continued to move forward.

"Don't shoot!" she shouted to the guards on the wall, they had their guns trained on her, "It's me! It's Clarke!"

There was a brief moment of tenseness, when Clarke wondered if over the past year she had become unrecognisable. Her hair was still braided in the same style as on the day of victory celebration a year ago. Her clothes had long since been replaced by grounder garments. She wore layered cotton vests and a coat with a large fur hood to ward off the cold, and many pockets for carrying her healer's equipment. The guards continued to stare at her down the sights on their guns until eventually they dropped the weapons and gave a shout,

"Open the gates. Clarke has come back!"

Through the electric wiring on the fence, Clarke could see a flurry of activity pick up in the camp at this announcement. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked towards the gates as they began to open. The moment they were, a group of people rushed out to meet Clarke; her mother, Kane, Bellamy and Raven headed the group.

Clarke stopped her horse and got down off the saddle. She ran towards her mother and was welcomed into a tight hug. She buried her face in her mother's shoulder and inhaled the familiar scent,

"Welcome home, sweetheart," Abby whispered,

"Mom! It's so good to see you." Clarke felt tears forming in her eyes and she leaned out of the hug to look at Abby's face, "I'm sorry I've been away so long," she said.

Abby offered her a sad smile, "I'm just glad to see you alive and well. Where have you been?"

Clarke gulped. Swept up in the rush of seeing her mother again, she had forgotten to keep an eye on the others. Now she looked at the other faces in the group and saw that they were all staring up at Lexa on her horse with varying levels of hostility,

"Clarke." Bellamy spoke now, "What is she doing here?"

Clarke wiped her tears away with her coat sleeve. "Bellamy please. She's come here with me. We're fine."

"Are you serious right now?" now Raven chimed in,

"Clarke she left us all to die!"

Clarke tried to suppress the anger that flared in her chest as she regarded Raven, "No. She saved her people without unnecessary bloodshed."

There was a frosty silence as the group continued to glare towards Lexa. Clarke turned to her mother,

"Mom please. She means no harm, she's just come here with me. That's where I've been this past year. In Polis, the Trigeda capital."

Abby looked from Lexa to Clarke. Clarke could feel her mother taking in her appearance. She noticed how her mother's eyes settled on the piece of Lexa's cloak that she still wore braided into her hair.

"Alright, as Chancellor I will allow her into the camp. Has she brought shelter?"

Clarke nodded, "Her tent and one for Aldrin, her bodyguard, are in the cart."

"Good. We will make space for them within the camp. She is not to set foot in any of our buildings without supervision. And both she and her bodyguard will hand in their weapons to the guard as they enter."

Clarke closed her eyes and breathed in, "Thank you," she said.

Abby turned her attention back towards Lexa and Aldrin, "Let them pass."

Clarke moved past the group back towards Lexa. She took her horse by its reins and began to lead it into the camp. Lexa dismounted and did the same with her horse. As she walked she kept her head high and her face neutral and she did not look at anyone. When she reached the guard that stepped forward to take her sword and dagger, Lexa handed them over with little more than glance. Clarke wondered how much this frosty reception was really affecting Lexa and how much she had been prepared for it.

Once a large enough space was found for them, the three were left whilst they constructed the two tents. It didn't take Lexa and Aldrin long, they were well practiced at the task. Clarke mostly stood out of the way and helped when she was given a direct instruction to. They'd only brought the central circle of Lexa's tent. There would be no need for a war table so the bed could be built in the central dome. Nor had they brought the flags that would usually adorn the tent roof. Even so, it was a large structure and they had plenty of room inside. Especially when compared with Aldrin's tent which was big enough only for one person to sleep in.

When the construction was complete, Lexa immediately entered her tent. Clarke followed and watched as Lexa sat herself on the edge of the bed and began to pick at her nails, a clear sign that she was agitated.

"I'm sorry about that," Clarke said.

Lexa looked up at her, "It's fine. It was expected and not without reason. You should go and see you people, Clarke. I'll be fine."

Clarke shook her head and almost growled in frustration, "It isn't was some homecoming. Bellamy and Raven didn't even say hi to me before they jumped on your back!"

"Which is why I am happy to stay in here. So that you can have your proper reunion."

"And how do you expect to start negotiations if you won't go out there?" Clarke felt herself growing angrier. She had to make a concerted effort to keep her voice quiet enough that anyone close to the tent would not overhear.

"Clarke, that's going to be on you."

Clarke wanted to argue but miraculously, she managed to bite her tongue, "Maybe. But that doesn't mean you should feel like a prisoner here. Lexa, please just come sit outside with me. If people want to ignore me unless I'm alone, that's on them. Their loss, right?"

Lexa cracked a small smile at that and she picked herself up off the bed and came forward. She reached out a hand which Clarke gladly took and gave a squeeze. She felt herself moving forward, closing the distance between her and Lexa, when Aldrin's head appeared in the entrance of the tent.

"Commander? Sorry to interrupt but Marcus Kane wishes to speak with you."

Lexa dropped Clarke's hand and the moment passed. "Let him in," Lexa ordered.

Aldrin came into the tent and held the canvas open to allow Marcus through. Clarke saw as Marcus made a note of how close she and Lexa were standing before he regarded Lexa.

"Commander Lexa, thank you for agreeing to see me."

"This is your camp. I am your guest, am I not?" Lexa spoke. Her voice was even and unreadable. It still unnerved Clarke how quickly Lexa could transform into the Commander. Clarke was so used to getting to see the woman behind the title by now. Her role as healer kept her days busy and that meant she rarely saw Lexa attend to official business anymore. The negotiation she had attended before they left had been quite an exception.

"Of course. Actually that is why I have come. I wanted to apologise for the way we welcomed you today. It wasn't hospitable of us. You've helped Clarke to get home to us and no doubt helped her in more ways than we'll ever know over this past year. So I want to say thank you and, speaking for myself here, you are welcome here."

Lexa nodded her head in respect, "Thank you Marcus."

"I get it you know. When I was Chancellor I had to make a tough call. A really tough call, one that got a lot of my own people killed. So what you did, saving your people and sparring you army any more losses? Well I'd have jumped at being able to do the same if I'd been given that option."

"You mean the cull?" Clarke asked and Marcus nodded. She could see the pain in his eyes, the same pain she'd been learning to live with this past year. She hadn't given much thought to how much she and Kane might have in common. But now it was good to know she had at least one person on her side, on Lexa's side, in camp.

"Anyway, you shouldn't keep yourself hidden in here, please. We've just cooked off a panther if you are hungry. And Clarke, I am sure there are lots of people who want to see you."

"But they won't approach me if-"

"Give them time. I may not have as much sway around here as your mother but I'll do what I can to make sure people are at the very least hospitable to our guests." Marcus gestured to Lexa and Aldrin, "I'll leave you alone, then." Marcus smiled, nodded and then exited the tent.

Clarke and Lexa followed Marcus's advice and left the tent to help themselves to the panther. Once they had stripped what meat they wanted from the spit, they went and found a place to sit together by the cooking fire and ate in silence. Aldrin had remained to guard the tent, though when Clarke looked over to the structure, she saw that his gaze was fixed upon them.

Clarke took the time to scan the area. Not much had changed. The Camp was still dominated by the curving wreck of a section of the Ark. It served as the main indoor space where everyone slept. Outside there was a large tent, the medical bay. Several small metal structures had also been constructed in Clarke's absence. She made a note to find out what their functions were.

It struck Clarke how small Camp Jaha seemed to her, and how few people there were in it. After a year in the Trigeda capital the realisation was jarring. How were her people to survive when there were so few of them? They'd never have the numbers to build a proper settlement, not without outside help. Suddenly Clarke was reminded of why she had decided to come back and she glanced again towards the medical tent.

"You should go if you want to start gathering information about the Camp, Clarke." Lexa spoke from next to her. Obviously she had been watching Clarke for some time.

"It's fine. I can start tomorrow." Clarke reached and put a hand on Lexa's knee, "Let's enjoy the rest of the day together, alright?"

Clarke tried her best to sound upbeat. It was true she was grateful for the opportunity to kick back and spend time with Lexa, away from Polis and their day to day responsibilities. But she couldn't keep all the bitterness out of her voice. She glanced around again and noticed how everyone in the camp was avoiding them. People would approach the cooking fire, only to retrieve their meal and hurry off back towards the derelict Ark. She could see people drinking at the makeshift bar and milling around the out buildings. Worst of all she could feel their eyes on her and Lexa; brief curious glances, like pinpricks, that quickly moved on out of fear of being caught staring. An outright confrontation where everything would be aired out almost seemed preferable. Clarke made a note to keep herself away from the bar or that would become an inevitable course of events, no doubt.

Clarke felt Lexa's hand cover her own and she smiled and looked back towards her.

"Are you full Clarke?" Lexa asked her in trigedasleng. They often found themselves using Lexa's first language so that Clarke could keep in practice. Clarke just enjoyed hearing Lexa speak in it. The language of her people fit Lexa in a way that English never would.

"Stuffed, actually."

"Give me your plate."

Clarke handed her empty metal plate to Lexa. She watched as Lexa picked herself up and carried them over to the outdoor wash basin next to the bar. As she walked, the whole camp tracked Lexa's movements, as if expecting the worst. Clarke found it almost humorous then, when Lexa simply washed the dishes and then replaced the plates on the stack on the bar. Was Lexa hoping to prove herself quite domesticated? Clarke rolled her eyes as Lexa began to walk back to her. She waited until Lexa had sat herself back on the ground,

"Small first steps to winning the hearts and minds of the sky people?" Clarke joked, still in trigedasleng,

"You shouldn't underestimate the power of small gestures, Clarke."

Clarke threw her head back and laughed and she didn't care that it made people stare more. Let them see her happy at least, even if they refused to come and share that happiness with her.

"I'll find you a broom next."

Lexa raised an eyebrow, "Don't push it."

"Push what?" Clarke reached out and gave Lexa's shoulder a playful shove, earning her an exasperated look. Clarke waited for retaliation but it didn't come so she dropped her gaze and began to pick at the blades of grass beneath her. A she expected, she saw Lexa begin to move in her peripheral vision and in an instant, Clarke leaned back so that Lexa's own shove missed,

"Oh! Oh? Remind me which one of us is the 'great' warrior here?" Clarke chided,

"I let you dodge that," Lexa replied indignantly. They held each others stare before more laughter came, from both of them this time. Clarke leaned in and rested her head on Lexa's shoulder,

"Thank you for coming with me Lexa. This can't be easy for you." Clarke sighed when Lexa kissed her forehead. They were rarely this affectionate in public in Polis, even though the whole city knew that Clarke lived with the Commander and had long since drawn conclusions. So Clarke had to assume that this openness was calculated and deliberate on Lexa's part. Still, that didn't lessen the genuine feelings that she knew were behind each action. Over the year, they'd developed into a surprisingly affectionate pair when alone. Clarke thought that both of them had realised how much could be said with a touch without having to actually say anything. She knew that this suited Lexa well. Clarke herself had never been inclined towards romantic gestures. Yet she too found herself using simple touch and a look to communicate the far from simple bond they shared.

Now the act of resting their heads together communicated to the whole Camp that they were a united front. No amount of avoidance or judging glances was going to come between that. Clarke let her eyes roam again and she almost jerked as she met her Mother's stare. At some point Abby had exited the medical tent. From the way she stood by its entrance, it seemed she'd been watching Clarke and Lexa for a while. The staring continued for a while, neither mother nor daughter willing to concede. Finally Abby started to walk towards them. Clarke and Lexa sat apart again when Abby reached them. She regarded Lexa first,

"May I have a moment with my daughter?"

Lexa glanced towards Clarke and Clarke gave her a reassuring nod. She was confident she could handle whatever her mother was about to throw at her.

"Of course." With that Lexa picked herself up and headed to her tent. Clarke peered around her mother's form and saw as Lexa gave instructions to Aldrin, no doubt to keep watch over what was about to happen, before entering her tent.

Abby sat where Lexa had just been and looked towards her daughter.

"You two seem very close."

Clarke held back a sigh and turned towards her mother, "Don't tell me that this has suddenly become an issue now it's her."

Abby actually laughed, "Is that what you think is bothering me? Don't be ridiculous, Clarke."

Clarke didn't respond.

"Actually I wanted to say that I'm infinitely grateful that you've found someone who makes you happy. I'm sure you think you have an idea about how worried about you I was this past year. But I promise you that whatever you think comes nowhere close. The slim possibility of you surviving out there on your own aside, to go off like that, carrying what you were carrying. Clarke, I thought that if I ever saw you again it would only be a shadow of you. I thought I'd lose you for good. That you would lose yourself for good."

Now Clarke looked directly at Abby, "That very nearly happened,"

Abby nodded. "I know how strong you are Clarke, but what you've gone through could- should- break even the strongest spirit. But instead you come back and I see you smiling. Laughing even. That's a Clarke that I don't think I've seen since we've been down on the ground. I expected to lose you even more, but instead I think I might of gotten my daughter back. And I have to draw the conclusion that a lot of that is thanks to Lexa."

Clarke felt the tears forming in her eyes and they began to fall down her cheeks. Abby was crying too, "I wish people would just give her a chance." Clarke croaked out. She wanted to say more, to tell her Mother exactly why she had forgiven Lexa and that everyone should do the same. She wanted to tell her Mother about her year learning about the Trigedakru. About working as one of their healers and just how much her perceptions had been changed by those experiences. But she could not find the words to communicate these things through the tears.

Abby reached out and cupped her face and began to wipe the tears away. "I'll give her a chance," Abby said, "I will."

Clarke let out a sob and fell into her mother's arms. They hugged tightly for what felt like a long time.

"I love you, Mom," Clarke said into her mother's shoulder,

"I love you too, baby girl."

After the heart to heart with her mother, Clarke returned to Lexa's tent. She found Lexa lounging on the bed, her eyes half shut. They snapped wide open the moment they saw Clarke's puffy face and Lexa practically jumped off the bed. Clarke put up a hand,

"It's fine, Lexa. I'm fine." Clarke sniffed and moved over to the bed. She lay down on top of the duvet and plumped her pillow. Then she motioned for Lexa to join her. They lay on their sides facing one another and kept silent a while. "My Mom is willing to give you a chance."

Lexa looked pleasantly surprised by the news, but remained silent.

"Maybe she'll be able to convince the others as well," Clarke murmured.

"Maybe," Lexa said back, "Does it really matter?"

Clarke tried not to roll her eyes. She thought she'd been clear enough that it did matter that the people she cared about gave themselves the chance to see what she saw in Lexa. It seemed she was going to have to spell it out after all, "Of course it matters," she said firmly,

"Why?"

Clarke fixed her eyes on Lexa's and opened her mouth to give her answer. She paused for just a moment before she spoke in trigedasleng, "Ai hod yu in, Lexa." She watched as Lexa's eyes widened at her words. It was the first time either of them had actually told the other that they loved them. Clarke had even surprised herself by being the first to do so in the end, though it had been true for both of them for several months she suspected. Probably even longer than that for Lexa.

Lexa leaned in and gave Clarke a brief kiss before leaning their foreheads together. "Ai hod yu in seintaim, Clarke," she replied and Clarke could hear the wonder in Lexa's voice.

Confident that she had made her point, Clarke went in for another kiss. They did not leave the tent again that day except once; to fetch water before they went to sleep.